This Mexican Christmas Cookies recipe is one of the most anticipated Christmas treats in our house each year!
These are the perfect combination of flavor and texture! The SOFT (never dry) sandy texture that melts in your mouth, and the buttery nutty flavor makes these one of our favorite Christmas Cookies each year!
There is nothing quite as delightful as your first bite of one of these soft and richly flavored cookies on Christmas eve, but they’re wonderful for all special occasions!
They’re one of my family’s favorite cookies and a classic Christmas cookie tradition!
The Perfect Texture & Flavor Combo!
I think everyone loves the texture of this Mexican Christmas Cookies recipe the most. But, they’re made with real butter and chopped pecans or walnuts which give these cookies a rich flavor too… The perfect combination of texture and flavor!
These beauties start with a type of shortbread dough with chopped nuts, quickly cooked on a baking sheet and parchment paper to a wonderful melting texture that’s a bit sandy and tender… (not dry or crumbly like pecan Sandies or other shortbread cookies.)
Mexican Christmas Cookies don’t really expand when baking, so they keep that nice round “snowball” shape Then we finish them off by rolling the warm baked cookies through powdered sugar which gives them a sweet wintery Christmasy snowball-like finish!
You’ll find these cookies during the holiday season at the grocery store in packaged commercially made versions, but they are SOOOO much better made fresh from scratch!
I always add these to my Christmas cookie plates and gift them to friends and neighbors.
How To Make Mexican Christmas Cookies Recipe
The first thing you need to do to get started making these delicious Christmas treats is to take your butter out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. (Butter mixes into cookie dough MUCH easier and taster when it is soft at room temperature.)
Next, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Preheat the oven to 400º.
- In an electric mixer on low speed, mix your Flour Mixture (flour, chopped pecans or walnuts, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and salt) with your butter and vanilla extract till all ingredients are well incorporated. This will form a stiff dough..
- Roll 1-inch balls of cookie dough and place them onto a lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart… (They do not spread while cooking.)
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 10 -12 minutes.
- Roll warm cookies through the extra bowl of powdered sugar (while they are warm) to coat them with powdered sugar.
- For best results, Let cookies cool, then roll through powdered sugar a second time to finish them off!
Serve on a cookie platter, or plate up for Christmas gifts!
You can also do this with chilled dough, just bake for an extra 2 minutes, so 12-14 minutes.
This dough does NOT spread while baking, so you can arrange them 1 inch apart on your cookie sheets.
Like other shortbreads, these cookies do NOT brown while baking (unless you overbake them); they’re done when firm to the touch;)
Mexican Christmas Cookie Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (or Almond Extract for more of a nutty flavor)
- 1 Cup softened butter
- 2 and 1/4 Cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Cup powdered sugar + 2 cups in a small bowl.
- 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 Cup chopped pecans (or chopped walnuts, toasted
*Optional Tip
The optional add-in is Orange Zest! This gives your Mexican Christmas cookie recipe a wonderful citrus burst of flavor!
Mexican Christmas Cookies
These are the perfect combination of flavor and texture! The SOFT (never dry) sandy texture that melts in your mouth, and the buttery nutty flavor makes these the most anticipated Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (or Almond Extract for more of a nutty flavor)
- 1 Cup softened butter
- 2 and 1/4 Cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 Cup powdered sugar + 2 cups in a small bowl.
- 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt
- 3/4 Cup chopped pecans (or chopped walnuts, toasted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400º.
- In an electric mixer on low speed, mix your Flour Mixture (flour, chopped pecans or walnuts, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and salt) with your butter and vanilla extract till all ingredients are well incorporated. This will form a stiff dough..
- Roll 1-inch balls of cookie dough and place them onto a lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart... (They do not spread while cooking.)
- Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 10 -12 minutes.
- Roll warm cookies through the extra bowl of powdered sugar (while they are warm) to coat them with powdered sugar.
- For best results, Let cookies cool, then roll through powdered sugar a second time to finish them off!
How To Store Dough or Leftovers
You can make this dough ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for up to a week in the fridge.
Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. No need to refrigerate.
Tools That Make Making these Cookies Easier
You can make whip up this dough with just a small bowl and a spoon, but there are a few tools that will make it much easier!
Food Processor, stand mixer, hand mixer, or Electric Mixer with a paddle attachment.
Large Bowl and a separate bowl for powdered sugar
Cookie sheets
Wire Rack or Cooling Rack
Small Cookie Scoop
Air-tight containers for single layer storage.
No rolling pin is needed here!
Snowball Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russin Tea Cakes
I grew up in southern California, and we called these cookies “Mexican Christmas Cookies” but the original name and recipe are questionable. However, they are called by different names, including Russian Tea Cake Cookies, Mexican wedding cookies, Mexican wedding cakes, Italian Wedding Cookies, and snowball cookies. As to their origins, I haven’t asked any food historians.
Make this recipe and you’ll be part of a legacy of bakers who have made Mexican Wedding Cookies, Snowball Cookies, or Russian Tea Cakes one of the most anticipated treats this time of year… The most wonderful time of the year is the Christmas season!
Whatever you call them, these are a big hit during the Christmas season and a great addition to cookie exchanges!
I hope you LOVED this Mexican Christmas Cookies Recipe as much as I do! You may also enjoy these Christmas Favorites:
- Date, pecan, coconut Snowball Cookies
- The best SOFT (and easiest) sugar cookies for decorating.
- Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
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